Multi-Packet Transport Structure and Method for Encoding and Transmitting Network Data Over Satellite Network

1. A method for encoding Internet Protocol (IP) data into a format for transmission over a satellite system, comprising the following steps: storing, in a memory, instructions for performing the method of encoding IP data into a format for transmission over a satellite system; executing the instructions on a processor; according to the instructions being executed: receiving an IP packet having an IP data block and header information; encoding the IP packet into a variable-length multi-packet transport (MPT) frame having a data frame and header information so that the data frame of the variable-length MPT frame comprises the IP packet; and encoding the variable-length MPT frame into one or more fixed-length MPT packets, each fixed-length MPT packet having a data fragment block comprising at least a portion of the variable-length MPT frame and associated header information to designate what portion of the variable-length MPT frame is contained in the data fragment block.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the header information of each fixed-length MPT packet designates whether data contained in the associated data fragment block is from a starting portion of the variable-length MPT frame, an ending portion of the variable-length MPT frame, or a middle portion of the variable-length MPT frame.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the header information of each fixed-length MPT packet comprises a one-byte header having a start-of-frame bit which is set if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the starting portion of the variable-length MPT frame and an end-of-frame bit which is set if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the ending portion of the variable-length MPT frame, the start-of-frame and end-of-frame bits both being reset if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the middle portion of the variable-length MPT frame.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the header information of each fixed-length MPT packet comprises a multi-byte address in an event that data contained in the associated data fragment block is the starting portion of the variable-length MPT frame.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of calculating error correction information for the one or more fixed-length MPT packets.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising the step of attaching the error correction information to one of the fixed-length MPT packets.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a header including an address and a trailer with error correction information to each fixed-length MPT packet to form satellite-transmittable packets.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising the step of transmitting the satellite-transmittable packets.

9. Computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform acts comprising: receive an Internet Protocol (IP) packet having an IP data block and header information; encode the IP packet into a variable-length multi-packet transport (MPT) frame having a data frame and header information so that the data frame of the variable-length MPT frame comprises the IP packet; and encode the variable-length MPT frame into one or more fixed-length MPT packets, each fixed-length MPT packet having a data fragment block comprising at least a portion of the variable-length MPT frame and associated header information to designate what portion of the variable-length MPT frame is contained in the data fragment block.

10. A method for encoding network data packets into a format for transmission over a distribution system, comprising the following steps: storing, in a memory, instructions for performing the method of encoding network data packets into a format for transmission over a distribution system; executing the instructions on a processor; according to the instructions being executed: adding a header to a network data packet to form a variable-length multi-packet transport (MPT) frame; segmenting the variable-length MPT frame into one or more data fragment blocks; and adding a header to each data fragment block to form fixed-length MPT packets of a size appropriate for transmission over the distribution system, wherein the step of adding a header to each data fragment block comprises the step of adding a header which designates what portion of the variable-length MPT frame is contained in the data fragment block and whether the data contained in the associated data fragment block is from a starting portion of the variable-length MPT frame, an ending portion of the variable-length MPT frame, or a middle portion of the variable-length MPT frame.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the header of each fixed-length MPT packet comprises a one-byte header having a start-of-frame bit which is set if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the starting portion of the variable-length MPT frame and an end-of-frame bit which is set if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the ending portion of the variable-length MPT frame, the start-of-frame and end-of-frame bits both being reset if the data contained in the associated data fragment block of the fixed-length MPT packet comprises the middle portion of the variable-length MPT frame.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding padding bits as a trailer to the network data packet to form the variable-length MPT frame.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding an address to a first data fragment block.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of calculating error correction information for the fixed-length MPT packets.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of attaching the error correction information to one of the fixed-length MPT packets.

16. A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding a header including an address and a trailer with error correction information to each fixed-length MPT packet to form satellite-transmittable packets.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising the step of transmitting the satellite-transmittable packets over a satellite distribution system.